How to Be a Healthy Mom, From a Healthy Mom
Today’s guest post with tips on how to be a healthy mom comes from Kim Johnson, an ISSA-certified personal trainer, Pilates instructor and owner of Mirror Image Fitness. A mom of three herself, she shares a few of her secrets of how she became—and still is—a fit mom!
Like you, I don’t have a moment to spare. But when I made the commitment to myself to get fit, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It wasn’t easy finding the time to work out. I had three children in a four-year period. I can’t even remember which photos go with which kid, and sometimes I call them by the wrong name. In order to keep up with my kids, I had to find a way to get more energy. This was not an easy task. I work, I am married to a restaurateur who works 24/7, and my extended family lives out of town. This was going to be a challenge.
Lucky for me, I love a challenge. I am too vain to let my body look like I have had three children, so I set up a system to get the job done. At the time, I didn’t realize that I had a plan, but I did know I needed to find a way to eat better, get more sleep and get my pre-baby body back. I’d like to share my solution with you in hopes that these seven tips motivate you to change your life and give yourself the best gift you can: health. The following tips on how to be a healthy mom are realistic enough to work for any woman who wants to get in shape, whether you are a new mom or just ready to get back into your skinny jeans.
7 Tips on How to Be a Healthy Mom
1. Prioritize. In order to be successful at anything, you must be committed. You must make a decision on a given day that you are going to change your life, and then decide how you are going to change your life. Write down your daily list of activities and put getting fit at the top of it. It may sound selfish when you have children to take care of, but they will understand and respect your choice when they see how much more energy you have and how playful you’ve become. Don’t let any guilt set into play. I grew up Catholic and it comes with the territory, believe me! Make a choice and stick with it. Find out why you want to embark on this change, write it down on your bathroom mirror so that you see it every morning when you wake up. Then go ahead and be committed to the change no matter how busy are.
Do whatever you need to do to get your time in at least three days a week. Each workout can be anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes of activity with or without your children. If you can’t afford a sitter or a health club membership, then exercise with the kids. I used to put my kids on my back and do push-ups, and we would play leapfrog (it’s a great way to get in your squats!) and tag (great cardio).